Administrators appeal to Rangers fans

23 February 2012 11:17

Rangers' administrators have told fans their continued backing is crucial in helping to secure the club's future.

The Scottish champions attracted their biggest home crowd of the season for last week`s Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Kilmarnock at Ibrox - their first match since going into administration.

David Whitehouse, joint administrator, said in a statement: "Ibrox was sold out last Saturday and hopefully that can be the case for the rest of the season. The fans are clearly extremely loyal to Rangers and by coming to matches at Ibrox they are directly contributing to the club's future."

He added: "Right now, it is quite simple - income now will help secure the future of Rangers."

Financial firm Duff and Phelps took control of the running of Rangers last Tuesday over an unpaid tax bill of £9million accrued since Craig Whyte's takeover last May.

Whitehouse says the situation at Rangers is "positive" and claimed other clubs were sympathetic to their plight.

He said: "Overall, I would describe the situation as positive.

"Everybody recognises the plight that the club is in and have come to the table to help and assist where possible. We have also had very good support from the football authorities and have met with both the SFA and the SPL.

"For 140 years Rangers has been a key part of Scottish football. We hope that the influence and the support which the club has given to the game over the years will carry some weight at these difficult times.

"Generally other clubs are sympathetic. I think clubs realise this is a difficult time for the football industry in general and Rangers isn't unique in its financial position. They are very supportive of the survival of the club which is critical to Scottish football."